News

Wow, there sure is a lot going on at Mint HQ these days! In case you missed it, we found the time to shoot this very excellent video for this year’s Ridiculously Early Xmas Party, which is on December 5 at the Astoria, if you’ve forgotten.

This year we're back with another installment of the ever-popular-gravity-defying-bodega-art-bestowing Hot Heros compilation! Hot Heros 2 is 14 tracks of tasty goodness for your ears--although we're not asking what the generous dollop of twirled brown paste the kitchen staff have blessed that stack of pancakes with!

Official release date is Friday, December 4, 2015, but hey, we were never good at waiting until the big day to open our presents, so why should you? Go ahead and give these a spin in advance of the release date. Click here for more details on what this release is all about.

If you want to get this lil gem in physical format you’ll have to be one of the first 50 people to arrive in person at this year’s Mint xmas party!

Thanks to our NYC bodega art aficionado Shena Yoshida for another great cover this year!

Happy holidays!

...But wait, there's so many new faces, what's the deal with them all?!

Energy Slime – Another snappy vignette of bite-sized micro-pop that blasts into orbit and back in less than two minutes, recorded in Ryan Dahle’s studio with his brother Kurt on the drums, this crispy delight is a dream that we’re happy to pump up LOUD.

Heaven For Real – This marks the second time the brothers Grundy have been included in our Hot Heros series. That makes their batting average 100% and songs lacking ridiculously awesomeness ZERO so far. Now that’s an enviable record to keep.

Tough Age – We’ve heard this one performed a lot of times live over the years and always wondered when its infectious hooks and bubblegum riffs were going to see a physical release, and now it finally has! (rip Mammoth Cave).

Aaron Read – Sometimes Aaron Read and Burton Cummings have the same moustache, but that’s really all they have in common aside from the fact that they have both penned a pop gem titled “American Woman” to their name.

Renny Wilson – Maybe you thought this was going to be punk, maybe you thought it was going to be disco. Whatever you expected, it probably wasn’t this catchy little earworm.

Faith Healer – Renny Wilson proved he can be all things to all people this year, and this remix that transcends the pop culture space-time continuum is no exception. Or maybe it’s just a really great dose of its namesake.

Ok so Halifax Pop Explosion was a success and Halloween (our fave) has come and gone but we’ve still got plenty more fun stuff coming at you before the year’s out! Like, say, this year’s Mint Records’ Ridiculously Early Xmas Party!?!

Not only are we bringing seven amazing bands out for this super special party but we’ve also got goodie bags full of gifts for the first 50 people through the doors. That’s right – we’re giving away a mix of prizes and gift certificates from Pocky, Horses Records, Red Cat Records, Zulu Records, and more! PLUS we’re giving away a super secret, extremely limited edition Mint release you won’t find anywhere else!!

Hot Toddy! It's that time of year again when we pack up our rain slicker and cart it across the dry Canadian landscape 'til we reach the opposite drizzling shore. That's right, Mint's headed coast to coast from Vancouver to Halifax for a little something known as Halifax Pop Explosion! If you haven't heard of the 22 year old festival, it's probably time you learned because it's a personal favourite of ours. Plus, on Saturday, October 24 we're having a daytime party at the Seahorse Tavern featuring Monomyth, Tough Age, Energy Slime, and Fake Tears... and you're invited!

Hello! We’ve been trying to contain our excitement and omigosh it’s finally time to announce the latest addition to the Mint roster: Fake Tears!

Even before joining as Fake Tears, Larissa Loyva and Elisha May Rembold were already established singers and songwriters in their own right. You’ll probably remember Larissa from her work in P:ano and the Choir Practice, or Elisha from Lost Lover’s Brigade and Shimmering Stars. Or maybe you recognize them both as vocalists for the funked-up Adrian Teacher/Amanda Pezzutto/Shawn Mrazek combo COOL TV? Either way, we’re super excited to have them on board!

The duo’s full-length debut, Nightshifting, is nine songs that send shivers while teeming with beauty. The duelling microKORGs of Loyva and Rembold create a mysterious wonderland and although their masterful label-mate producer Jay Arner’s name is in the credits, these songs show little sign of alteration.

Earnest and unadulterated, Nightshifting explores themes of love and loss but always keeps its playful side in the mirror as these remarkably talented singers let their vocals soar over haunting synths.

Don’t miss your chance to grab this one on vinyl because not only is the sound awesome but so is Sian Hislop’s stunning artwork. LP and digitals versions will be available August 7, but you can pre-order it here now!

Alright, I'll admit it: we've been a bit spoiled this year with the weather in Vancouver since it's been feeling like summer for a month already. Meanwhile, it sounds like some parts of the country just got rid of that pesky white stuff, so put away your toboggans because summer will be in full swing by the time Sled Island rolls around. To celebrate, we’re throwing the annual and amazingly awesome Mint Records Day Party, a FREE party at Commonwealth Bar & Stage on June 26!

We don’t find ourselves all in the same place like this very often so make sure to stop in and say hi to the (mostly complete) Mint family for plenty of bands, snacks, and friends! If you can’t make it, be sure to catch these bands at their respective Sled Island evening showcases. Not sure when your favourite band is playing? Stay tuned to mintrecs.com and the facebook event for those details as they unfold, and don't forget to RSVP while you're there!

For Renny Wilson, whose personality is equal parts avant-disco and infectious snotty punk, he’s made a go of overcoming his angst by crafting pop-driven ditties informed by both Giorgio Moroder and Crass alike. Of course, when he told us that some of his early work was resurfacing, we had to have a look at what exactly that manifesto of teenage turmoil looked like, and the unlikely result was Punk Explosion/Extension.

Available on July 10th, the Renny Wilson Punk Explosion/Extension is the soundtrack to your summer. Whether your friends are urging you to stay out all night, or you’re passing the time by reading the AK Press catalogue under candlelight, this record is just as ready to dance as it is to give the neighbours a little something to freak out about.

"Seven years in the making, Punk Explosion is an unhinged hodge-podge of punk and garage rock that thrashes like a shark in a kiddy pool" - NOISEY

Oh Hello! We Just wanted to let you know, Tough Age are preparing to unveil their next full-length album.I Get The Feeling Centralwill be out on June 23! To keep your musical appetite satiated, here is the first single, it's called "Snakes & Ladders" and you can stream it below. NYLON Magazine has already called it, "the coolest rock n' roll song we've heard all year."

If you are the type who likes to pre-order records, we're offering a 10% discount - just use the code "getthefeel" at checkout. AND, don't forget, Tough Age and Energy Slime may be visiting a venue near you! They are calling this the TOUGH SLIME tour and will be venturing throughout the west coast. Go and see them!

Record Store Day will soon become synonymous with Hot Dog Day thanks to Vancouver/Toronto upstarts Tough Age and their cuddlecore pioneering labelmates, cub. On April 18, the surf-punk quartet will issue a special Record Store Day release of covers from cub's 1993 original via both bands’ hometown label, Mint Records (that’s us)!

More than twenty years and 150 Mint releases ago, cuddlecore trailblazers Lisa, Robynn and Valeria rejected the grunge tendencies of Seattle-influenced Vancouver bands and turned them into a palpable positivity they could call their own. Cub's sound was so infectious that Tough Age frontman Jarrett Samson has never been shy about their influence on his musical upbringing.

Limited to 500 copies of clear red 7” vinyl, each member of Tough Age has a chance to show off their vocal skills on Plays cub’s Hot Dog Day. Performed with unabashed adoration, the spunky opener “Flying Carpet” is sure to whisk you away while the gang vocals on “Summer Samba” let the sun shine in. And when you finally get to hear why Penny Clark and Lauren Smith think Satan sucks on “My Chinchilla”, well, we’re pretty sure that’s the best.

Ok, we know the holidays are over but would someone please ship us down a bucket of that holy, holy Edmonton water? The city seems to be on a real creative streak lately and we’re more than a little jealous over at Mint HQ! Not to worry though, because we’re happy to announce our brand new relationship with Edmonton’s Faith Healer!

Led by principal songwriter Jessica Jalbert, we’re excited to be working with this Edmontonian whose melancholic meanderings have helped her carve out a unique sound while lending a hand in local faves Tee-Tahs, Jom Comyn, and the Renny Wilson Punk Explosion. Following the success of 2011’s self-released solo debut, Brother Loyola, the introspective songwriter set to work on penning another collection of inward looking dream pop played with laid back bravado.

Engineered under the masterful watch of whip-smart producer—and fellow Mintie—Renny Wilson, the two bonded over their mutual affection for dreamy ‘60s garage rock and swaggering ‘70s singles while in the studio. Hinting at a slightly spacier sound, Cosmic Troubles will arrive March 31st in LP and digital (apologies to our few remaining cd loving fans).

Faith Healer - Cosmic Troubles

Out: March 31st, 2015

"Early single 'Again' boasts a swaggering rhythm section, brightly shining Summer Of Love guitar leads, and hypnotic vocals out of an old French pop record. It’s impossible to tell if this song is floating or sauntering, but it’s easy to discern that it’s great."- Stereogum

Track Listing:

Acid
Again
Canonized
Cosmic Troubles
Fools Rush In
Angel Eyes
Infinite Return
No Car
Universe
Was, Is And Is To Come
Until The World Lets Me Go

Inspired by the distinctive floating sandwich artwork of the Big Apple’s bodegas, the desire to create an updated version of the old timey sampler and our grumbling stomachs (it was almost lunchtime), we asked our current Minties—who call Vancouver, Halifax, and anywhere in between home—to share their favourite songs with us. After that, they nominated their friends to contribute tracks. Together they make up the first cassette Mint Records has released since Pansy Division’s Wish I’d Taken Pictures in 1996!

With plenty of flavours from across the country to choose, we let our roster be the tastemakers and picked up some savoury sounds in the process from Tough Age, Renny Wilson, Monomyth, Jay Arner, Kellarissa, Pick A Piper, and more! Many of these songs are previously unreleased and all are delicious! Photographed and coordinated by our transcontinental label manager, Shena Yoshida, and mastered by our very own Jay Arner, Hot Heros is a sonic smorgasbord for your aural appetite.

Although you will be able to stream the digital version of this compilation, only 300 physical copies of these little hotcakes will be manufactured. The first 50 people through the door can pick one up as a free gift at this year’s Ridiculously Early Xmas Party. So, fire up your Sony Sportsman on Saturday, November 29 and head down to the Electric Owl (928 Main St, Vancouver), but be sure to get there early as these will vanish fast!

Now, in case the album art didn’t get your earbuds salivating, you’re probably wondering what these bands are all about!

Renny Wilson – Sometimes mistaken for a slap-dash showman at first sight, this funny-man-gone-disco-gone-punk is about as versatile a performer and talented a engineer/producer as you can find. “Youngsters”, off this year’s Punk Explosion cassette, is no exception.

Other Jesus – Vancouver newcomers comprised of three music vets, Sheik Hardy, Jose & Maria, and Auntie Christ, the full frontal satire of O.J. is neither orange nor juice. Before appearing on Hot Heros, “Couch” was previously released on the sweet, sweet, lo-fi mess of 2014’s Bachelors of Art cassette.

Old & Weird – Halifax is a long ways away from Vancouver, and we don’t get there very often, but thankfully our pals Monomyth introduced us to their pals Old & Weird. Taken from this summer’s What I Saw cassette, “Peachy Beach” delivers exactly what it promises: an irresistible pop ditty that will have you singing along in the sunshine.

Tough Age – Wait. What’s going on here? A previously unreleased version of Tough Age playing cub’s “My Chinchilla”? A Mint band covering another Mint band? Greg Sage was right: there is no generation gap, at least between these two.

Heaven For Real– Warbly experimental pop from a couple of our favourite brothers on the East Coast, Mark and Scott Grundy, “Hard Done By” could hardly be done better by anyone else.

Monomyth – I have no idea what the title “Faces Magazine” is getting at but I really wish I did since everything this Halifax quartet touches to turns to gold, and sometimes even real money. This jam is so new, even the Mint staff haven’t heard it yet but I’m just going to go ahead and say it’s brilliant.

Creaks – Very little is known about Edmonton dream-pop outfit Creaks. They are elusive. They are timeless. They are not here. We do know that Renny Wilson helped record and produce this song.

Pick A Piper – When he’s not performing in Caribou’s live act, Brad Weber makes some pretty great dance music of his own. When we first heard it, we were shocked to discover “Fluency” was an outtake from Pick A Piper’s 2013’s self-titled Mint debut. Good thing it made it onto this comp!

Jay Arner – Does this man really need an explanation? If you’ve heard of Mint Records, you’ve probably come across this genius of pop songcrafting in some way or another. If you haven’t, this is a great place to start since he mastered every track on Hot Heros. Thanks, Jay!

Cult Babies – The first time I ever heard Cult Babies was at a little hole-in-the-wall sushi joint in Vancouver and so the fact that this previously unreleased track called “On A Roll” made it onto this comp only adds to my theory that Hasan is a wizard or possibly a secret agent. Also, if you’re planning on opening a restaurant, make sure there’s miso fries on the menu. They’re delish.

Energy Slime – Another gem from the Vancouver micro-pop outfit fronted by Jay Arner and Jessica Delisle, “After Tonight (It Will Never Be Night)” continues on the short and spacey trail of this year’s New Dimensional, which, if you haven’t heard, you probably should.

Watermelon – The slowly oozing lo-fi goodness of “Silver Surfer” from this Vancouver trio sticks in your mind the same way that a comic book character riding a surf board across the stratosphere does: with pure toes-on-the-nose chilllllll. Surf's up!

Supermoon – Previously known as Movieland, this power-pop band has been at it for a while now and definitely deserves the landslide of praise they’ve been getting. “Burnout of my Dreams” is the first recording to be released under their Supermoon moniker, but you will probably recognize their sound from the Movieland track on Mint/CITR Pop Alliance, Vol. 3.

Weird Candle – As their name implies, the dark ambient synth project from Vancouverites Kilroy Katerwol and Caleb Blagdon is an odd and dimly lit one. We still love it though.

Kellarissa – Larissa Loyva (aka Kellarissa) has been on the road a lot recently, singing in front of stadium crowds and making new friends around the world as a backup singer/keyboard player in How To Dress Well’s touring band. She can also be seen in her other project, Fake Tears. “Ships in the Night”, features Larissa's soaring voice and is a synthy, previously unreleased dream.